Update: Investigators believe PV bodies the result of murder-suicide

After discovering two dead bodies at a Prescott Valley residence this past Saturday, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office is now investigating the case as an apparent murder-suicide.

According to YCSO, the female victim has been identified as 39-year-old Marcella Thomas, who resided at the Pima Road home. The identity of the man, now classified as a suspect in this case, will not be released until his family has been notified about the death. The suspect was apparently in a prior relationship with Thomas. The call to YCSO came from Thomas' friend who had gone to the home to check on her welfare.

On Saturday at approximately 6:30 p.m., deputies responded to a reported homicide in the 3400 block of Pima Road. Inside the home, deputies found a deceased male and female both of whom had been shot.

During a preliminary investigation and based on evidence examined at the scene, deputies determined the male shot the female and then killed himself. A handgun was recovered from the scene.

UPDATE, SUNDAY, 6:51 p.m.:

PRESCOTT VALLEY - The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office did not release further information Sunday regarding the deaths of a man and woman whose bodies were found Saturday evening in a mobile home.

A man who was concerned about the welfare of the woman came to Pima Drive in the Castle Canyon Mesa residence on Saturday evening to check on her, according to a spokesman for the sheriff's office. That man found her and another man dead and summoned police at about 6:30 p.m.

On Sunday, Sheriff's spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn said an investigation was ongoing but could not as yet release the names of the deceased people or state their cause of death. Sheriff's deputies, Prescott Valley officers, Central Yavapai Fire paramedics and LifeLine Ambulance crews responded to the scene.

INITIAL REPORT, SATURDAY:

Prescott Valley Police officers responded with Yavapai County sheriff's deputies to a report of a man and woman dead in a mobile home on Pima Drive in Castle Canyon Mesa Saturday evening. Yavapai County Sheriff's Dept. spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn said a man who was concerned about the welfare of the woman went to the home to check on her. He found her and another male dead, and called police.

D'Evelyn said he could not immediately confirm the cause of death, because detectives were still investigating the scene. Officers received the call about 6:30 p.m. Prescott Valley Police responded first to the scene until deputies could arrive, and surrounded the home while they determined if it was safe to go inside. Central Yavapai Fire paramedics and LifeLine Ambulance crews than entered the home, but could not help the victims. Distraught family members and friends gathered at the scene waiting for news, and neighbors and bystanders lined the street to find out what had happened. A Trauma Intervention Program volunteer arrived later to help the family. The names of the victims were not available Saturday evening as detectives continued the investigation.